The German club’s track record of developing elite young talent was too attractive to pass up for the Italian prospect
Diego Garavaglia: 'Ulm’s history brought me here'
Player Spotlight
13 Минутное чтение
The list of high-level European prospects who have come to ratiopharm Ulm and taken major steps forward continues to grow. With names like Killian Hayes, Juan Nunez, Pacome Dadiet, and most recently Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue, the German club’s reputation for developing young talent was simply too strong for Diego Garavaglia to ignore.
The Italian guard, who came through the youth ranks of EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, had already achieved success at both club and national team level. So when it was time to take the next step, Ulm stood out for more than just basketball reasons.
"I looked at a couple of Italian clubs that really wanted me. They were known for giving young players real minutes, not just putting them on the bench. But what made me choose Ulm was just their history,” said Garavaglia, who also had the option of playing college basketball in the United States. “There’s good money there [in the US], but Ulm felt like the right place for me."
A big part of his decision came down to trust in Ulm head coach Ty Harrelson, sporting director Thorsten Leibenath, and the overall management team.
“I like how they think about a young player developing over the course of a season – having the ball in his hands, being allowed to make mistakes, turn the ball over. It’s part of the process,” he said. “In Italy, that doesn’t happen as much. Young players are usually expected to just play defense. It’s a different approach.”
Garavaglia also noted that Ulm’s philosophy extends beyond just the court.
"They see young players as professionals off the court, too. I’m excited to live the whole season like a pro – traveling a lot, playing in tough arenas, and getting better every day. I’m playing with a top-level team in Germany and in the EuroCup, so it’s going to be intense. It’s also my first year outside Italy, living on my own. It’s going to help me grow in every way.”
He recalled a conversation with Leibenath during last season’s German League Playoffs that helped seal the move.
“He told me, ‘If you come here, you’re not going to live with other players. You’re going to live alone because we see you as a professional. That means being responsible and taking care of yourself on and off the court.’ I really liked that. It made me feel like they believed in me.”
Living alone, of course, comes with new challenges – like cooking for yourself. Garavaglia came prepared, bringing a serious taste of home with him: 20 kilograms of pasta, five bottles of olive oil, and three bricks of Parmesan cheese.
“I brought it all from home, just to be safe,” he said with a smile.
At a preseason fan event, someone from the club tipped him off about an Italian market near his apartment, and he’s eager to check it out. But he’s also counting on his parents to bring reinforcements when they come to visit.
Garavaglia already has experience on big stages. This past spring, he helped U18 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan reach the Championship Game of the 2024-25 Adidas Next Generation EuroLeague, where it lost to U18 Zalgiris Kaunas in Abu Dhabi.
“We had already beaten Zalgiris twice that season, so I really thought we were going to win. But they had something extra in that final,” said Garavaglia, who finished with 13 points and 7 assists in 37 minutes during the 89–81 loss.
That game still lingers in his mind, not just because of the result but because it was his final game with Milan.
“Every time I think about that game, I feel like we could have won. It was my last one with Milan, and that makes it harder. We deserved to win that competition for how we played. I’m really sad it ended like that.”
Despite that disappointment, Garavaglia left Milan with a full trophy cabinet. He won the Italian U15 title, as well as the U20 Next Gen Cup and U19 Italian League championship in 2024 and 2025. On the international stage, he helped Italy win silver at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket 2023, silver at the FIBA U17 World Cup 2024, and bronze at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket 2025, where he was also named to the All-Star Five.
One of the games Garavaglia is especially looking forward to this season is December 4 against Dolomiti Energia Trento in the EuroCup. Not only will he be facing an Italian team, but Trento’s roster includes two young Italian players he knows well – Theo Airhienbuwa (born in 2006) and especially Patrick Hassan, a fellow 2007-born talent.
“They were one of the teams that wanted me back in Italy. They’re a great place for young players. I know Patrick really well – we’ve played together for Italy the last three summers and won three medals together,” he said. “I hope he plays. Every time I’ve played against him with our clubs, I’ve won. I want to keep that going. No reason to change a winning formula,” he joked.
So far, Garavaglia is clearly enjoying his time in Ulm and is confident he made the right move.
“I feel good here. I’m growing, I’m learning, and I’m playing in a high-level environment. Ulm is the perfect place for me right now.”